Leaders from Muguka-growing areas have supported legislation that would tax but protect muguka and miraa growers.
The Crops (Miraa) Regulations, 2023 were introduced on April 5, 2023, to establish a regulatory framework for Kenya’s miraa subsector, however they have never been completely implemented.
In September 2023, governors from muguka/miraa-growing regions petitioned senators to reject the regulations, claiming that their views were not integrated into the recommendations.
The Miraa Regulations allow the Cabinet Secretary to levy miraa produce or products by a notification in the gazette.
The levy imposed shall be at a rate of Sh2 per kilogramme of miraa produce imported or exported.
“There shall be a levy imposed on miraa products destined for export based on Free on Board value at a rate of two per cent, imported miraa products at a rate of four per cent of the customs value,” the regulations reads.
In a meeting in Machakos on Thursday, leaders said they support the law because it guarantees protection of farmers and traders.
“Miraa/muguka has a fully funded Directorate from the Government of Kenya established under the Agriculture and Food Authority Act (The Miraa/Muguka, Pyrethrum, and other Industrial Crops Directorate (MPICD)) to regulate, develop, and promote miraa, pyrethrum, and other industrial crops subsectors in Kenya,” said Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who read the statement on behalf of leaders from Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties.
The leaders are protesting bans and irregular levies imposed on miraa and muguka by Coast counties.
The forum, convened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including MPs, county government officials, miraa farmers, traders and research experts.
Miraa is categorized as a scheduled crop under the Crops Act, 2013, alongside other key cash crops such as coffee and tea.
